A Call for Unity and Action

The International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit 2025, held on February 4–5 in Washington, D.C., brought together a diverse coalition of faith leaders, human rights advocates, policymakers, and NGOs to address pressing global challenges to religious freedom. With more than 1,000 attendees—and some estimates suggesting over 2,000—this year’s summit was described by co-founder Sam Brownback, former U.S. Ambassador-at-Large for Religious Freedom, as “the largest religious freedom gathering in the world, ever.”

A United Front for Religious Freedom

Under the bipartisan leadership of Katrina Lantos Swett and Sam Brownback, the IRF Summit 2025 symbolized a rare collaboration between conservatives and liberals, emphasizing that religious freedom transcends political divides. A highlight of the opening ceremony was a multi-faith water ceremony, where representatives from various religious traditions poured water into a single vessel—a powerful symbol of unity and shared commitment to defending the right to belief.

Key Global Issues Addressed

The summit’s discussions spanned multiple continents, with a particular focus on authoritarian repression, religious persecution in conflict zones, and the responsibilities of democratic nations in upholding religious freedoms.

Authoritarian Persecution and Religious Repression

Speakers highlighted the Chinese Communist Party’s suppression of Uyghur Muslims, Falun Gong practitioners, and Christians, as well as Iran’s ongoing persecution of Baha’is and Christian converts. Another key concern was Russia’s suppression of religious groups in Ukraine, where churches have been closed or seized in the wake of the ongoing conflict.

The situation in Africa was also a focal point. A special “Spotlight Africa” session, sponsored by the Religious Freedom Institute (RFI) and Pepperdine University, underscored the growing crisis of religious violence across African nations, particularly in Nigeria, where extremist attacks against Christians and other groups have surged. RFI President David Trimble called for Nigeria to be re-designated as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) by the U.S. government—a status it lost in 2021 despite escalating violence.

Religious Freedom Challenges in Democracies

While authoritarian regimes remain a major concern, the summit also tackled religious freedom issues in democratic nations.

A significant point of discussion was Japan’s crackdown on the Unification Church (Family Federation for World Peace and Unification) following the 2022 assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, speaking via video message, warned that Japan’s actions set a dangerous precedent, arguing that dissolving a religious group’s legal status would harm religious liberty, damage U.S.-Japan relations, and embolden authoritarian regimes like China.

Summit co-chair Katrina Lantos Swett called the Japanese government’s actions a “witch-hunt-like persecution”, inconsistent with democratic values. In response, dozens of summit attendees, including political and religious leaders, signed a joint statement urging Japan to abandon its campaign against the Unification Church. This statement, widely covered by media outlets, marked a rare international rebuke of a democratic nation over religious rights.

Humanitarian Crises and Religious Freedom

The summit also addressed the intersection of religious freedom and humanitarian crises. Speakers noted that while extreme poverty has declined globally by 75% over the last two decades, forced displacement due to religious and ethnic persecution has increased by 300%.

A key topic of concern was the treatment of religious refugees and asylum seekers. Panelists cautioned that strict border policies should not override the responsibility to protect those fleeing religious persecution. Pastor Bob Roberts urged that caring for persecuted refugees is a mandate of faith, not a political issue, as concerns mount over future U.S. immigration policies.

See Also

NIGERIA: Lynched for “Blasphemy”

Notable Speakers and Initiatives

This year’s IRF Summit featured a wide array of prominent speakers, including:

• Vice President JD Vance – addressed religious freedom policy in the new administration.
• Jim McGovern (D-MA) & Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) – emphasized bipartisan commitment to religious liberty.
• Elder Ulisses Soares (LDS Church) – delivered a message of solidarity, stating, “You are not alone. Human dignity is a universal birthright.”
• Chief Justice Martha Koome (Kenya) – highlighted the intersection of religious freedom and justice in Africa.
• David Beasley (former World Food Programme director) – advocated for integrating religious liberty into global humanitarian efforts.

Policy Outcomes and Action Items

The summit led to several tangible policy recommendations and initiatives, including:

1. Joint Statement on Japan – A formal declaration condemning Japan’s actions against the Unification Church and urging international pressure to uphold religious freedom in the country.
2. Policy Paper for the U.S. Government – A seven-page document outlining key policy recommendations for the next administration, including:
   • Prioritizing foreign aid for persecuted religious minorities.
   • Restoring refugee protections for those fleeing religious persecution.
   • Implementing stronger diplomatic and economic sanctions against violators of religious liberty.
   • Increasing monitoring of high-risk nations, including Nigeria, Syria, and Iran.
3. Launch of IRF Summit Africa (June 2025) – A newly announced regional summit focused on religious freedom in Africa, reflecting the IRF Summit’s growing global impact.

Media Coverage and Further Engagement

The IRF Summit 2025 attracted significant media attention from The Washington Times, Deseret News, Fox News, Catholic News Agency, and other outlets. The summit’s official policy recommendations document is expected to be published soon via its organizers and partner organizations.

The International Religious Freedom Summit 2025 reaffirmed the critical need for vigilance, unity, and action in the global struggle for religious liberty. As authoritarian and democratic challenges alike threaten this fundamental human right, the summit’s participants underscored that religious freedom is not just an issue for faith communities—it is a cornerstone of human dignity, global stability, and peace.

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Related Links

• RFI Highlights from the 2025 IRF Summit
• Desert News: At major religion summit, faithful wonder and worry what Trump will do as Vance speech looms
• DeseretNews: ‘Dignity is a universal birthright,’ Elder Soares says at religious freedom summit
• The Washington Times: ‘Grave consequences’: Japan warned on campaign against church
• Catholic News Agency: Religious freedom advocates at IRF Summit outline hopes for Trump’s term
• FOX NEWS: Religious freedom summit brings together politicians from both sides of aisle for global event
• Bitter Winter: Japan Should Stop Persecuting the Family Federation: Voices from the IRF Summit 2025